Sunday, 28 February 2010

Just when Allison and I were thinking it’d be nice to have a day in the park … !

Any way, let’s move on, shall we?

Yes, let’s … !

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Trevor, Andrea, and Andy all going head to head and getting 6 out of 6. With the Lady, herself — Andrea — getting the Official First-In-Clap!

And all three of our contestants putting in some superb quotes: Andy, bless him, put in a very relevant one from Dr Robert Oppenheimer, Trevor putting in some good ’uns from Johnny Carson and Wilson Mizner, and Andrea putting in a couple from both the late Spike Milligan, and Lord Byron.

Actually, Andrea, that last one from Byron definitely caught my eye: I’m wondering if anyone’s shown it to the likes of Max Clifford …

Saturday, 27 February 2010

You know, I’ve got to admit, there’s times when a Movie Night can go slightly …

Slightly …

Slightly differently to how it was planned …

Certainly to what I had in mind, anyway … !

Just to give you an example, I know myself and Allison were in Brentwood Library, today, oggling its collection of DVD’s for rent, when we both got to thinking the Neil Jordan cult favourite, Company Of Wolves, mite just go down well.

Not that the two of us — along with Movie Night Adrian and Dr Kevin — actually watched it …

Sometimes, Adrian can bring in a DVD with an interestingly persuasive looking bit of blurb …

Which he did, tonight.

He’d been in Brentwood Library, earlier, as well, and managed to pick up a copy of the Simon Fellows directed, Danny Dyer film, Malice In Wonderland*.

The film tells us the tale of billionaire’s daughter, Alice Dodgson — who’s found out a little something her father didn’t want her to know, and is itching to confront him with it — who is transport down the film’s version of the rabbit hole, by being hit by the cab drivein by Whitey: the Danny Dyer character, in other words.

Which, much like the book, is where it gets strange …

After all, Whitey was going to take delivery of a tie.

No, don’t ask, it’ll spoil the surprise.

•••••

Now personally?

I’m thinking I speak for all of us, in saying we’ve seen something I’ve come to think of as a Repo: The Genetic Opera, here. Or just plain Repo, in honour of the musical.

In other words, a film I think is boxed to look vaguely like something it’s — maybe — not.

That you’re — maybe — not expecting to like. Or dislike, come to that matter.

But you end up having a surprisingly acceptable evening with, anyway.

Malice In Wonderland is another Repo.

You might not be stunned by it, its artistic integrity or contribution to the field of film, acting or directorial arts when you watch it.

But you’ll be entertained, at least.

Maggie Grace…Alice

Danny Dyer…Whitey

Matt King…Gonzo

Nathaniel Parker…Harry Hunt

Bronagh Gallagher ...Hattie

Anthony Higgins…Rex

Steve Haze…Midge

Gary Beadle…DJ Felix Chester

Amanda Boxer…Bag Lady

Garrick Hagon…Mr. Dodgson

*I do know the reviewer for IMDb wasn’t stunned, but did like bits of it.

So putting the Teasers up, along with the rest of the posts, gives a certain amount of shape to my day.

And I think I should thank you, my readers, and everyone — Simon, Trevor, Tim, Andrea, Adele, and Livy, and all my regulars — who does the Teasers, for that.

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yes, let’s …

Yesterday’s Teaser was quite fun, to be honest: bless ’im, Simon — once more hitting the Speedy Button! — getting 5 out of 5, and putting in a couple of good quotes. Which included a comment about Sam Colt that had me laughing out loud!

Q1)26th February, 1917, saw the first ever recording of a Jazz record, at the Victor Talking Machine Company, in New York: but what was the name of the band?

Q2)26th February, 1936, saw Adolf Hitler open the first factory devoted to building what?

Q3)26th February, 1936, saw an attempted coup: in which country?

Q4)On 26th February, 1993, saw the attempted truck-bombing of which New York building?

Q5)And finally … 26th February, 1987, saw the General Synod of the Church of England vote to ordain women priests: who was the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1)25th February, 1964, saw who named as Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World?

A1)Cassius Clay. (Later known as Muhammed Ali, of course. I saw him interviewed, a couple of year’s ago, by Michæl Parkinson: Ali, at one point, apparently fell asleep, mid-questioned. Parky was understandably concerned and immediately called for help … until he noticed Ali was grinning at him. This, with serious Parkinson’s Disease. I don’t know about you, but the guy is still the Greatest, as far as I’m concerned.)

Q2)More to the point, who did the Champion beat?

A2)Charles L. ‘Sonny’ Liston.

Q3)25th February saw Samuel Colt receive the patent for the Colt revolver: but in which year?